A very interesting discussion and questions posed. From my own research and personal experience in farm management, in particular farm business management, natural resource management and 'emissions management' are critical, in all farming production scenarios, including organic, climate smart and biodynamic farming systems. Indeed fresh water management and conservation take a priority, but need to be considered, within the overall management of natural resources and emissions. I have found, that from a business management point of view, 'costing' natural resource usage as an economic good as well as emissions, which is fairly an old adage, makes farmers think and reflect, usually, and shows them, that if used wisely, natural resources and emission reductions can cut farm costs, for example. However, it becomes somewhat more complicated with explaining that water withdrawals for farming detract from water availability for natural vegetation and wildlife as these are important as farming areas, and that in this regard of water withdrawals within the local area, a 'balance' needs to be found. Further, there is also competition from rural towns and urban centres for fresh water. Moreover there is also competition from manufacturing and other manufacturing operations, still for fresh water.

An interesting option is waste water recycling, including urban waste water recycling. Overall though, two of the main issues i have found, among the many, in terms of fresh water, devoted to agriculture, is that of ownership of water sources and usage rights over streams, ponds, rivers and lakes, etc., for example and water pricing. Pricing of fresh water is highly subsidized, as per the high social implications of water and as such tends to be very undervalued, and not only in farm production operations. The introduction of future markets for water have moved this slightly more towards a better economic valuing of water, but many matters remain unsolved.

Yes, better management of water consumption and conservation is highly correlated with running a sustainable farm. Water is a vital resource for agriculture, and its efficient use and conservation play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term viability and sustainability of farming operations.

Here's how better water management is connected to sustainable farming:

1. Resource Efficiency:

• Sustainable farms aim to optimize resource use, including water. Efficient water use minimizes waste and ensures that the available water resources are used to their fullest potential.

2. Conservation:

• Sustainable farms prioritize water conservation by implementing practices that minimize water loss through evaporation, runoff, and inefficient irrigation.

3. Environmental Stewardship:

• Proper water management helps protect local ecosystems, as excessive water withdrawal can harm aquatic habitats, wetlands, and water quality.

4. Soil Health:

• Proper irrigation practices prevent soil erosion and compaction, maintaining soil structure and fertility for healthier crop growth.

5. Resilience to Climate Change:

• Sustainable farms build resilience to changing climate patterns by adopting practices that enhance water availability during droughts or periods of reduced precipitation.

6. Reduced Input Costs:

• Efficient water use reduces the need for excessive irrigation, leading to lower energy and water supply costs.

7. Water Quality:

• Sustainable farms manage runoff and avoid water contamination through responsible practices, safeguarding water quality for both agricultural and community use.

8. Regulatory Compliance:

• Many regions have regulations regarding water use and conservation. Sustainable farms adhere to these regulations, avoiding fines and contributing to responsible resource management.

9. Long-Term Viability:

• By conserving water resources, sustainable farms ensure the availability of water for future generations of farmers and communities.

10. Community Relations:

• Responsible water management fosters positive relationships with neighboring communities by demonstrating a commitment to shared resources.

To achieve better water management, sustainable farms may implement techniques such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, soil moisture monitoring, cover cropping, crop rotation, and precision farming practices. These strategies not only ensure the farm's economic success but also contribute to environmental stewardship and resilience in the face of changing climatic conditions.

Yes . Every crop requires certain quantity of water beyond which the crop will react negatively . Low soil moisture cold replenished by irrigation systems , while excessive soil moisture content could be tackled by drainage systems .

Water is a critical input for agricultural production and plays an important role in food security. Water conservation at farm level is considered a necessary requirement if we are to feed the booming global population by supporting sustainable agriculture. Maximization of crop & water productivity at farm level by increasing application and use of irrigation water via water-saving technologies (e.g. laser land leveling ,furrow bed irrigation, drip irrigation, mulching, deficit irrigation, and water-saving cultivars) are the main ways to solve water resources shortage at farm level. Poor farm designing and uneven fields are responsible for significant (about 30%) water loss during application at farm level. Most of our farmers apply irrigation water to the fields until the highest point is irrigated, which leads to over-irrigation of low lying areas and under-irrigation of higher spots thereby resulting in accumulation of salts in such areas. Over irrigation leaches down the soil nutrients from the crop zone, makes the soil less productive and degrades groundwater qualityleadign to poor agriculture productivity. Following conservation practices at farm level will ensure better water productivity at the farm.

1 Laser land leveling enables efficient utilization of water resources through elimination of unnecessary depressions and elevated contours at farm. It facilitate application efficiency by 15-25% through even distribution of water and increased water-use efficiency that resulted in uniform seed germination, better crop growth and higher crop yield

2 Improved farm layout help improve improve both conveyance and application efficiency of applied water.Enhances the irrigated area by 2% due to reduction in number as well as length of field ditches;

3 Improved method of boarder and furrow irrigation.

4 Improved diversion of water.

5 Deep Cultivation.

6 Water budgeting and adjusting cropping pattern.

7 Irrigation scheduling or when to apply water.

o Proper depth of water application or how much water to

o Apply.

o How to apply water.

8 Locating water courses so that their total length in the farm is to a minimum

9 They are as straight as possible with minimum bends.

10 Boarder width and length match steam flows and soil texture.

11 There are drains that allow the proper drainage of water from the land and soil.

Above Good agricultural and water management practices at farm level will ensure better conservation of water that will ensure significant improvements in agricultural productivity at farm level on sustainable basis.

It is rarely possible to maintain a sustainable agro farm with water Conservation and correlation. Fishing within a large pond or water reservoir by providing specific farming area is partly easier to cultivate fish. Plenty of fresh water become available at this point but at the same time, consumption of that water may originate some difficulties as it no longer remains drinkable. However, culturing algae in same reservoir may reduce the impurities caused by fish farm and make water relatively vigorous for consumption.

Many studies indicate that the farmers are either wasting water by over irrigation or are deprived of their allocated share. The over irrigation has caused the salinity and water logging problems and the less water availability has caused either low crop yields or area with no cultivation. This situation has caused low crops yield and inefficient use of water. The inflexible supplies have also increased the cost of production by the use of ground water pumping.

Studies indicate that total available water supplies are still 3.25 times the crop water requirement. That indicates the great potential to store water at the farm level and utilize it for crop production. On Farm Water Management (OFWM) Punjab helps to meet crop water requirement by increasing flexibility of water availability and to grow high value crop .OFWM does both first store canal water delivers to the farm on the turn, then pumped out from the On Farm Water Storage (OFWS) to irrigate the crops in-between the turn through high efficiency irrigation system(Drip and sprinkler).OFWS are also being used for fish culture. Thus, better water management at farm is highly correlated with sustainable agriculture.

Drip Irrigation, Mulching, sprinkler